Shloka 3
Devahūti’s Prayers, Kapila’s Departure, and Devahūti’s Liberation
Siddhapada
स एव विश्वस्य भवान्विधत्ते गुणप्रवाहेण विभक्तवीर्य: । सर्गाद्यनीहोऽवितथाभिसन्धिर् आत्मेश्वरोऽतर्क्यसहस्रशक्ति: ॥ ३ ॥
sa eva viśvasya bhavān vidhatte guṇa-pravāheṇa vibhakta-vīryaḥ sargādy anīho ’vitathābhisandhir ātmeśvaro ’tarkya-sahasra-śaktiḥ
ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ! ਗੁਣਾਂ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਹ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੰਡ ਕੇ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਹੀ ਸ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਟੀ, ਪਾਲਣਾ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਲਯ ਦੀ ਵਿਵਸਥਾ ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋ, ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਆਪ ਅਕਰਤਾ ਜਿਹੇ ਹੋ। ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਸੰਕਲਪ ਕਦੇ ਝੂਠਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ; ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਰਮ ਆਤਮੇਸ਼ਵਰ ਹੋ। ਤੁਸੀਂ ਇੱਕ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਵੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੀਆਂ ਅਚਿੰਤ੍ਯ ਅਨੇਕ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਆਂ ਨਾਨਾ ਰੂਪਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ—ਇਹ ਸਾਡੇ ਲਈ ਅਤર્ક੍ਯ ਹੈ।
The statement made in this verse by Devahūti that the Absolute Truth has many diverse energies although He personally has nothing to do is confirmed in the Upaniṣads. There is no one greater than Him or on an equal level with Him, and everything is completely done by His energy, as if by nature. It is understood herein, therefore, that although the modes of material nature are entrusted to different manifestations like Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva, each of whom is particularly invested with different kinds of power, the Supreme Lord is completely aloof from such activities. Devahūti is saying, “Although You personally are not doing anything, Your determination is absolute. There is no question of Your fulfilling Your will with the help of anyone else besides Yourself. You are, in the end, the Supreme Soul and the supreme controller. Therefore Your will cannot be checked by anyone else.” The Supreme Lord can check others’ plans. As it is said, “Man proposes and God disposes.” But when the Supreme Personality of Godhead proposes, that desire is under no one else’s control. He is absolute. We are ultimately dependent on Him to fulfill our desires, but we cannot say that God’s desires are also dependent. That is His inconceivable power. That which may be inconceivable for ordinary living entities is easily done by Him. And in spite of His being unlimited, He has subjected Himself to being known from the authoritative scriptures like the Vedic literatures. As it is said, śabda-mūlatvāt: He can be known through the śabda-brahma, or Vedic literature.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord alone orders the universe by distributing His energies through the flowing modes of nature (guṇa-pravāha), so material creation works under His direction.
Because although creation appears to proceed through nature, Devahuti recognizes that Kapila—the Supreme Lord—acts through countless, logic-transcending potencies, making His will unfailing.
It encourages steady faith and disciplined practice: do your duty sincerely while trusting that the Lord’s higher plan is purposeful, even when outcomes are uncertain.